A UNIVERSITY student tried to solve his financial problems by becoming a £34,000 eBay fraudster.

But Tariq Ayub was brought to justice thanks to an irate customer.

He was tracked down by a man who turned up on his doorstep, pretending to deliver a parcel.

He had paid £421 for a hi-fi for his partner, only to to get nothing in return.

But he got his money back, plus travel expenses on top, when he turned up at Ayub's address in Mavis Road, Blackburn.

The victim, Mark Knowles, then reported the matter to the police, prompting a detailed investigation into the defenant's internet activities.

Preston Crown Court heard that the fraud totalled £33,977 and involved dozens of transactions through the Ebay internet auction site.

Ayub, 22, pleaded guilty to a total of 12 deception offences. The offences happened in August and December 2006.

He had no previous convictions.

Wayne Jackson, defending, said Ayub had been acting at the behest of others who were criminally sophisticated. He had used his own bank account and registered his own home, thus leaving an audit trail.

"The split was 65-35 per cent. Around #12,000 was paid to the defendant”, Mr Jackson said.

"He had got into student difficulties, owing money. This appeared an easy way to satisfy his debts. He was studying civil engineering at Leeds.”

Judge Andrew Woolman gave him 12 months prison, suspended for two years, with an order to do 200 hours unpaid work.